Police Offer Who Shot Woman Failed Field Training

The Florida cop who accidentally fatally shot an elderly woman during a demonstration was allegedly told to quit at his previous job because he could not pass a field training program.

Punta Gorda Police Officer Lee Coel was released from the Miramar Police Department after not being able to successfully complete the field training program, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Coel worked at the Miramar Police Department for a year and two months before being hired by the Punta Gorda Police Department.

Coel recently came under fire for accidentally shooting an elderly woman during a demonstration at a citizens academy Tuesday night. Mary Knowlton, the 73-year old librarian, was randomly chosen to participate in a role-playing activity to show how quickly officers need to make decisions on the field.

Knowlton, chosen to play the victim, was hit by an actual bullet and died. As of now, an investigation is being held to find out why the gun was loaded.

“Officer Coel remains on administrative leave while the investigation into this incident gathers more details into how this tragedy happened. Like the rest of our community, Officer Coel is devastated by what happened and is receiving assistance from our department and the Police Benevolent Association at this time,” the Punta Gorda police said in a statement Wednesday evening.

Coel also was accused of excessive force before he came to the Punta Gorda Police Department. A dash cam video revealed that during a take down, Coel’s K-9 canine was biting a man and not listening to Coel’s orders. The man, Richard Shumacher, filed a lawsuit against the city.

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